Forbidden Zone on the Fourth Floor

Late at night, when all was silent, Ravenclaw Tower was immersed in slumber. Silas, wrapped in his blankets, slept as soundly as ever (and, as he claimed, naked), his Levitating Cloak draped over the foot of his bed like a loyal blanket.

Suddenly, a hurried, hushed call and a slight shaking jolted him from his deep sleep.

"Silas! Silas! Wake up!"

Silas groggily opened his eyes and, by the moonlight, saw Hermione Granger's anxious face inches from his own! He was instantly more than half awake, startled, and sat up abruptly, wrapping himself tightly in his blanket, staring in disbelief at Hermione, who shouldn't have been there:

"Hermione?! How... how did you get into my dormitory?!" This was terrifying! A boys' dorm!

Hermione didn't seem to notice his panic, speaking at lightning speed: "The doorknob's riddle was simple! It asked, 'What has ears but isn't an animal?' The answer is 'corn'! Because corn on the cob is also called 'corn ears'! And girls can enter boys' dormitories, it's just that boys can't enter girls' dormitories! Never mind that!"

She took a breath, her face etched with worry and urgency: "It's Harry and Ron! The two of them! Because of today's flying lesson, they're going to duel Malfoy at midnight in the trophy room! I couldn't stop them! Malfoy must have set a trap! I have to go keep an eye on them so they don't get into serious trouble! Come with me! You're clever and you have that Portal!"

Silas listened, drowsiness washing over him again. He rubbed his face in distress and flopped back onto his pillow, his voice muffled from within the blanket:

"Merlin's Beard... Hermione, can't you just sleep? Why are you causing a fuss about a duel in the middle of the night..." He turned over, his back to Hermione, "I swear on my wand, Malfoy that coward will absolutely, 100% stand them up. He just wants to lure them out to break school rules so Filch can catch them red-handed. You going will be a waste of time, you might as well sleep."

Seeing him about to fall asleep, Hermione grew more anxious. She reached out and tugged at his blanket: "No! What if? What if they actually fight? Or what if they get caught by Filch? Silas, get up!"

"Aow—!" Silas yelped, clutching his blanket tightly, curling into a ball, his voice changing pitch. "Let go! Don't pull! I'm sleeping naked! Naked! Do you hear me! I'm not wearing anything!"

The words struck Hermione like lightning. Her movements froze instantly, her face flushing scarlet, all the way to her ears. As if scalded, she yanked her hand away and stumbled back several steps, stammering, "I... I'm sorry! I... I didn't know!"

Silas seized the opportunity to wrap his blanket even tighter, only his messy head peeking out. He said irritably, "Now you know? Go back to sleep! Trust me, Potter and Weasley will at most have a wasted trip, swatting mosquitoes, and then getting chased by Filch for a bit. They won't die. You going would be more likely to get you all caught at once."

Hermione stood by the bed, torn. Her face was still flushed. On one hand, she thought Silas's analysis made sense; Malfoy probably wouldn't show up. On the other hand, she couldn't stop worrying about those two impulsive boys.

Seeing her conflicted expression, Silas sighed, using his last shred of patience. "How about this: you go back. If they're not back in half an hour, come and bang on my door again, and I'll open a Portal to take you to them, alright? Now, let me sleep!"

Hermione hesitated. Looking at Silas's determined stance to protect his blanket and sleep, she knew forcing him up was unrealistic (and the previous embarrassment still made her uneasy). She finally nodded, "Okay... it's a deal! If they're not back in half an hour..."

"Alright, alright, half an hour! Now, out, close the door, thank you!" Silas quickly interrupted her, pulling his head back under the blanket.

Hermione stomped her foot, but ultimately turned and hurried out of Silas's dormitory.

Hearing the door close, Silas finally let out a long sigh, poking his head out from under the blanket and staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Merlin... this school life... is more tiring than doing experiments in my past life..." he muttered, before sinking back into a deep sleep, deciding to completely put aside Potter and Weasley's midnight adventure. As for the promise he made about half an hour? He'd worry about it after he woke up!

An hour later, Silas's dormitory door was knocked on again, more urgently than before. Silas covered his head with a pillow, trying to ignore it, but Hermione outside clearly wasn't going to give up.

"Silas! Silas! They really haven't come back! It's been almost an hour! If they get caught by a professor, Gryffindor..." Hermione's voice came through the door, laced with tears and extreme anxiety.

Silas sat up abruptly, running his hands through his hair in exasperation. A torrent of highly colorful curses flashed through his mind. Resigned, he sighed, threw off the blanket (this time, he'd wisely put on pajamas), and irritably grabbed his wand and cloak.

"Damn those two idiots! Staying up late to court death! Fine, fine! Let's go! I really owe them!" he grumbled, roughly yanking the door open.

Hermione outside saw him emerge and looked as if she'd found a savior.

Silas didn't bother with pleasantries. He directly raised his hand and drew a circle in the air, instantly opening a Portal to a secluded corner near the fourth-floor corridor. "Hurry!"

They stepped through the Portal and immediately heard terrified screams mixed with loud dog barks echoing from deeper within the corridor!

Silas's expression darkened. He quickened his pace, Hermione right behind him. He kicked open the door, which was ajar, leading to the Forbidden Corridor, and roared impatiently:

"What are you two screaming about?! In the middle of the night, are you trying to die? Afraid Filch won't hear you?!"

The scene inside was terrifying: an enormous, three-headed dog was blocking the corridor, its six fierce eyes fixed on Harry and Ron, who were cowering against the wall, their faces ashen. Drool dripped from its three gaping maws, emitting a foul odor. Harry and Ron's wands lay on the ground; they were clearly petrified.

"Help us, Silas! Hermione!" Harry cried out, seeing them as a lifeline.

Silas looked at the colossal beast, especially its three heads constantly growling and revealing dagger-like fangs, and fell into a brief contemplation. He stroked his chin, then very seriously said to Hermione beside him:

"Hermione, I think... we should run. Let's leave these two idiots who brought this upon themselves. Look at this dog, it looks like trouble. It's not worth losing our lives for them."

Hermione looked at the terrifying three-headed dog, her face also turning alarmingly pale. She swallowed hard, and instinctively nodded, "That... that makes sense."

Harry and Ron's hearts sank upon hearing this.

However, the moment Silas finished speaking, the three-headed dog, perhaps angered by their conversation or simply impatient, let out a deafening roar from its middle head. Its massive body lunged towards the nearest Harry and Ron with a gust of foul wind!

"Run for what!" Silas's expression changed instantly. His previous "none of my business" demeanor vanished, replaced by a sharp intensity mixed with annoyance and resolve. He took a step forward, shielding Hermione behind him, and his wand (or rather, without his wand, just rapidly forming hand seals) traced a complex golden trajectory in the air!

"Today, I'm saving these two idiots!"

A dazzling, massive fan-shaped shield, composed of countless intricate golden runes, instantly unfurled before him! The shield pulsed with powerful protective energy, radiating a reassuring glow!

Seraphim Shield!

"Boom!"

The three-headed dog's heavy body slammed squarely into the golden shield, emitting a dull thud! Golden light flowed across the shield's surface, which remained unmoving, perfectly blocking the fatal lunge! The immense impact even caused the dog's three heads to wobble simultaneously, letting out confused and angry whimpers.

Silas maintained his casting stance and looked back at the stunned Harry and Ron, yelling, "What are you two gawking at?! Pick up your wands! Get ready to run! This shield won't hold forever!"

Though he cursed fiercely, his actions showed no hesitation in protecting them. This was Silas: he might complain about you courting disaster, but he'd unhesitatingly pull you back when you were truly on the brink of death.

The Seraphim Shield stood like a sturdy golden bulwark, firmly blocking Fluffy's ferocious pounce. All six eyes on Fluffy's three heads showed confusion and deeper rage. It shook its head, dazed from the impact, and let out a deeper growl, gathering its strength again and charging at the light shield with even greater ferocity!

"Boom—!"

Another muffled sound. The golden shield flickered violently but remained steady, though the light at its edges dimmed slightly. Silas frowned, feeling the immense pressure transmitted through the shield.

"What's wrong? Still addicted to crashing? Frustrated you can't break it?" Silas looked at the agitated Fluffy, a provocative smirk curling on his lips. "Then now... it's my turn!"

His left hand, maintaining the Seraphim Shield, remained steady. He abruptly raised his right hand, fingers spread, aiming at the colossal beast temporarily blocked behind the shield. The Vishanti's magic surged within him, transforming into furious lightning power!

"Balzaha Lightning!"

Crackle--!

An incredibly thick, green energy lightning bolt, like a giant python, erupted from his palm! The lightning carried a destructive aura and a deafening crackling sound, instantly tearing through the air and fiercely striking the chest of Fluffy's middle head!

"Awoooooo--!!!"

Fluffy let out an agonizing howl, its massive body convulsing violently! Green lightning snakes writhed frantically among its thick fur. Wherever they went, the fur stood on end, all exploding outwards, making it look like an enormous, terrified black hedgehog! The powerful paralysis and intense pain made it lose its balance for a moment, staggering backward until it was forced into the corner of the corridor. All three heads drooped in pain, emitting whimpering cries.

"Now's our chance! Run!" Silas seized the opening, immediately dispelling the Seraphim Shield. At the same time, his hands rapidly drew a huge portal behind him. Opposite the portal was the corridor near the Fat Lady's portrait in Gryffindor Tower!

"Hermione! Grab those two idiots! Get inside quickly!" Silas shouted to a stunned Hermione while maintaining the portal.

Hermione reacted with lightning speed. She immediately pulled up Harry and Ron, who were still slumped on the ground, and shoved them into the golden ring of sparks. Silas jumped in last. The portal closed rapidly behind him, disappearing without a trace.

Left behind in the fourth-floor corridor was Fluffy, the three-headed dog, its fur standing on end, dazed by the lightning, still whimpering. The air still held the lingering smell of scorching and a faint scent of ozone.

In the corridor of Gryffindor Tower, Harry, Ron, and Hermione collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath, still shaken. Silas leaned against the wall, calming his slightly rapid breathing, which was a result of casting advanced magic consecutively.

"Merlin's Beard..." Ron muttered. "What... what was that monster..."

Harry looked at Silas, his eyes filled with lingering fear and gratitude. "Silas... thank you... we..."

Silas waved a hand, interrupting him, his expression returning to its usual lazy, slightly impatient look. "Alright, enough with the pleasantries. Get back to your dorms and sleep! Nobody is to say a word about what happened tonight! Potter, Weasley, keep your mouths shut! If Snape or... anyone else finds out we trespassed in the forbidden fourth-floor area, we're all done for!"

He glared at Harry and Ron, then let out a huge yawn. "So tired... to save you two, my precious sleep time is gone again... If you pull a stunt like this again, I really won't care."

Without waiting for a response, he raised his hand and opened another portal leading to Ravenclaw Tower, disappearing into it without looking back. He left the three Gryffindors staring at each other in the empty corridor, filled with the relief of having survived and a complex, inexpressible gratitude towards Silas (along with shock at his abilities).